Automatic gate mechanism for elevator and mine shafts



c. DRUM. AUTOMATIC GATE MECHANISM FOR ELEVATOR AND MINE SHAFTS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I9. I919.

F. T If h m m C. DRUM. AUTOMATIC GATE MECHANISM FOR ELEVATOR AND MINESHAFTS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 19, 19!.9.

- Patented July 25, 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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WITNESS c. DRUM. AUTOMATIC GATE MECHANISM FOR ELEVATOR AND MINE SHAFTS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 19,' I919.

Patented July 25, 1922.

3 sHEETs-sH'EET a.

4 r F J N p m r 1 F i r J mkNP P T n 1 MN r J a m F n H J u wm E k w w JJV r J WMN r F J F. J T J F. J r J r J T UNN. J HRNF F u J QM. J J PM HNWN r F J T m Okw WITNESS Madd /1 0 they have not provided a singlemeans fora-lief the gates, so connected as to- Jnormally maintain apredetermined driving connection with respect to one of the gates n hilepermitting operation :to establish d-riv-:

- of the operating motor for uNrrn STATESPATENT orrrcs.

CHARLES DRUM, "or cnLIronNIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOIHATIC' GATE MECHAN ISM FOR ELEVATOR AN D MINE SHAFTS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 25, 1922,

Application filed December 19,1919. Serial No. 346,036.

T 0 all coil-omit may concern Be it known that '1, CHARLES DRUM, acitizen of the United States, residing at California, in the countyofWashington and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and aisefulImprovement in Automatic Gate Mechanism for Elevator and Mine Shafts,--'of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The present invention relates broadly to :gates and operating mechanismtherefor, but

more particularly to mine gates and the like adapted to be automaticallycontrolled by 'the elevator or cage.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide a plurality of elevator gatesWith mechanism for automatically controlling the same by the position ofthe elevator. Such an rangements as heretofore 'providedha've not,however embodied certain safety features which have :been found highlydesirable, and operating ing connection with any one only of the gatesat the same time. I

By the present invention, 1 have provided a gate-operating mechanismembodying certain of the above desirable features, and electricallycontrolled, whereby operation of the actuating motor can not occur untilan 4 the desIredr gat-e' has'been established. Another object of theoperative connection with present invention is to so retard the operatron of certain of the parts that certain operations can only occurunder proper conditions. l

with their attendant advantages, will be apparent as the inventionbecomes better understood by reference to the accompanying specificationthe'reot, it being premised "that changes may and drawings forming apartbe madeflin the various details and the manner of operation Within thescope of the appended claims without departing from --the pirit of theinvention. iFigu-re 1' i's'a diagrammatic illustration a plurality ofgates and the various connections therefor. Figure 2 is a Wiring diagramillustrating in heavy lines the circuits energized for opening the gatefor one ofth'e shafts.

Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Fig- .ihc foregoing and otherobjects, together ,ure 2, illustrating the circuit connections whenthiega-te is being closed.

Figure l is a similar view illustrating the circuit connections when oneof thegates for another of the shafts is being opened.

Figure -5 illustrates the circuit connections for closing the lastmentioned gate, and

Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 areenlarged detail views illustrating slightlymodified types of gates;

T he present inventionisdirected particularly to providing :a system of:gate control for mine shafts, which control is such that ,thegates areoperated by the cages as required by the -bituminous mine laws ofcerlain of the'States. 7

As illustrated in the drawings, the invention is particularly applicableto a plurality of gates provided on adjoining shafts, which gates arecontrolled by a common motor.

The invention is, however, not limited-in this particular, and may inseveral respects be applied to the operation of a single gate :as Willbe apparent hereinafter.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated a*motor 2, prefer- I in' engagement avith its 120- vice 3, whereby a' normal operative driving connection is provided between the motor and themember This member is in turn carried onone end of a shaft Shaving asuitable bearingrind carrying :at its opposite end a gear ilO'meshingwith a reduction'gear '11 on the shaft '19,..maybegournalediinjany desired bearings '1 and 1s PI'QVlQl'GCl 'W-Ithplnions l5 "meshing The shaft 12 With'rack's l6connected to the gate 17em- 1 ployed in'connection With the elevator or cages... r

In like1manner, the members is adapted to enga'ge its cooperating member'18, carried on one end of the shaft 19 journaled in the" bearing 20and'p'rovided on its opposite end with "a spur gear 21. This spur gearmeshes with a reduction gear journaled in the bearings 25 and providedwith pinions 26 meshing-with racks 27 onthe 22 on the shaft 24.

noid is provided with i j crossheads 55 and 56, and connected to a 7gate 28 for the cage or elevator B. As shown. this second clutch isnormally in inoperative position. Each of the gates l7 and 28 areillustrated provided with suitable counterhalancing weights 29 arrangedin any desired approved manner.

F or rendering the normal operative drlving connection between the motorand the gate 17 inoperative, and rendering the corresponding normallyinoperative drivmg connection between the motor and the gate 28operative, l. have provided a clutch actuating mechanism. This mechanismcomprises a suitable lever 30 having a pivotal mounting at one end andcooperating at its other end with a collar 32 formed on the clutchmember 5. Intermediate its ends, it

is connected by a link 34 with a similar lever,

35 having a pivotal mounting 36 for one end and cooperating at itsopposite end with i the collar 33 on the clutch member 6. The lever 35is in turn adapted to be operated by a bell crank 37 having a linkconnection 38 with a second bell crank This second bell crank isoperatively connected by the rod 40 with the core 41 of a solenoid 42.The solenoid ispreterably connected to a dash-pot 44 in such manner thatthe forward movement of the core 41 to produce the operation of theclutches described, is retardedo The dash-pot may be so adjusted that atime interval of approximately three seconds is required for themovement of the solenoid core. This solenoid is controlled by themovement of the cage B, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

Mounted on the cage A. is a switch operatmember 45 adapted to contact ata certain posi ion of the cage with the-arm 46 carr ing acircuit-closing arm 47. The arm 46 is so located in the shaft that themern- "ber 45 will bebrou'ght into engagement therewith when the cage Ais atone ofthe floor levels. Assuming that the A has reached such aposition the gate 17 will be opened in the following manner: Currentwill flow through the line wire L to the branch connection 48 of thesolenoid 49, the opposite end of which is joined by a conductor 50 withthe switch point 51.". .With the short circuiting arm 46 in closedposition. current will fiowfrom the p0int'51' through the conductingplate 4. to the point 52, and thence through the line wire L,

completing the solenoid circuit. This solecore 54 can Jill? dash-pot 57corresponding generally to the dash-pot44 for the solenoid 42.. andpreferably adjusted to require" a time interval of five seconds for themovement of the core 54. The solenoid 49' having been energized, if thecage A remains at a floor level for a period of at least five secondsthe core 54 will be lifted to close the circuit to the mo tor 2. Currentwill now flow from. the line wire L to the switch point 58, thencethrough the conducting plate 59 to the switch point 60 and wire 6l toone side of the motor 2. On the opposite side of the motor the circuitis completed through the wire 62 to the switch point 63, conductingplate 64, switch point 65. and wire 66 to the switch point 67. Normallycooperating with the switch point 67 and its cooperating point 68 is ashort circuiting switch 69 held. in short circuiting position by asuitable spring 70. This switch is provided with a projecting arm 71.adapted to be engaged by a projection 72 on the gate 17, as will be morefully de scribed hereinafter.

From the switch point 68 the current will flow through the wire 74 tothe switch point the cross head 56 to the switch point 77 and thencethrough the wire 78 to the switch point 79. This switch point and itscooperating switch point 80 are normally short circuited by a suitableswitch carrying a conducting plate 81 held in short circuiting positionby a spring 82 and provided withan arm 84 adapted to be engaged by theprojection 85 on the gate 28 as described in detail in connection withsaid gate From the switch point 80, the current flowsthrough the wire 86to the line wire L, thereby com 'ileting the motor circuit and causingthe motor to open the gate 17 through the operative driving connectiondescribec. After the gate 17 has reached its full open position, theprojection 72 will engage the arm 71 and open a switch cooperating withthe points 6. and 68 thereby- The circuit for thesolenoid 49 having beenbroken. the core 54 will drop to its lower position so that c-urr willflow through the line wire L to the switch point 87, conducting plate 88on the cross head 55 to the switch point 89 and thence through the wire62 to one side of the motor 2. From the opposite side of the motor thecircuit will be completed through the wire 61 to the switch point 9 0and thence through the con ducting plate 91 to the switch point 92, wire94, switch point 95, conductingplate 96, switch point 97 and wire 98 tothe switch point 99. This switch point is normally connected to itscooperating switch .point 100 by a short circuiting plate 101 on throughthe wire 10 1 to theline wire L may :be increased to any corresponding"to the number of the floor levels entering the shaft.

' The eagge' B i s-adapted ina somewhat simi lar manner to control theoperation of the.

erab'ly positioned adj acent intersecting the shaft reached a positionadj acent one operative driving 1 members 6 and '18 TlllS'OPGlEthlOIlWlllOC- will be apparent that if either oli-the gates is a suitableswitch normally held in engagement with the switch points by a spring102 and provided with an sir-111103 adapted to be engaged by'theprojection Won the gate 17 when the gate reaches its closed position.From the switch point 100 the current fiows From the connectionsdescribed it will be apparent that the motor 2 has its terminalsconnected to the line wires so that the current flow is in the oppositedirection from nections as described in Figure 2, thereby reversing thedirection of rotation of the motor to close the gate 17. This rotation"will continue until the projection 72 on the gate engages the arm 103to 'cuit"between the switch points 99 and 100.

It will be apparent that the number of gates andy t'he' number ofoperating motors desired number gate 28. One of these gates 28 isa'lsopre'feach floor level in which the cageB the cage B to have of the floorlevels, the member-105 will engage the arm operates. Assumlng 106carrying the short circuiting switch member 107, moving this member tothe po- 'sition illustrated diagrammatically in' Figure 4. "Inthisposition, current will flow through the line wire 'L to the wire 48 andthence through the-solenoid 19, wire 50 to wire 108 and thence to theswitch point 109. From the switch point the current will flow throughtheconducting plate 107 to the switch point 110 and'wire 11-1 to theline wire L.

"The solenoid 49, having been energized will lift its=core 54 and thecross heads 55 and 56 connected tothe switchpoint 12 1. From this switchpoint the current I will flow through the-conducting plate 117 to switchpoint 125 and thence through wires I121 and 86 to the line wire l/u"carried thereby. Previous to the'complete operation o f thecore-54c,the core 4:1 of the solenoid l2 will have been lifted to disconnect the'clutch -membersh and 7 and bring into engagement the clutch cur du'eto' the fact -that a'tirne interval of .tion of the'core 41, while atime interval of approximately five .SGCOildSlS required for 7 the wirethe operation of the core 54. The circuit for-the solenoid d2is*cognpleted through the line wire Lto branch wire 112 connectedto 'one-side of the solenoid and thence' through" theopposite side 114connected to thereof, to the switch p'oint11'5. From this switch pointthe current will flow through the conducting plate 10.? toth'e switchpoint .1'1'Oand th'en'ce'through the wire 111-to wire T86 and tothe'line wire *L. It will now be apparent that the clutch'mem'bers 6 and18 are in driving "engagement so that upon rota which occurs withthecircuit con-- break the cir-' tion.

a suitable spring wvill continue this opening movement untiltheprojiection 85 engages the arm 84 iat which time the motor circuitwill be broken. The gate will remain in its open position until the cage13 moves from the floor level, at which time the circuit connectionswill be as shown more particularly in Figure 5 'to insure the closingoi' thelgate. The solenoid 19 will have its circuit broken thereby per-'mitting the core 54: to drop to its lower posi- The solenoid 4:2 will,however, remain in circuit with the :l ine'wire L, wire 11'2and wire 114with the switch p0int 1-16; -This switch point is normally engaged bythe conductingplate 117 on a suitable switch provided with an arm 11.8adapted :to be engaged by the projection 85 on 'the gate 28 when thegate 28 reaches its closed position. As soon the gate leaves the saidposit-ion, 1 19 is :providedior forcing the conducting plate 117 intoengagementv with :the switch point 116.. l -his condition having beenestablished due to the opening otthegatei28 as describedin connectionwith Figure +1 cur-rent will flow from :the switch point 116 to thswitch point '120andthence through the wire 121 to the-wire 86 leadingto the line wire-L. This will hold the clutch through the wires 61, 9 1;and 98 to the wire of the motor the current will flow lTrom the circuitconnections described, it I in open positioin the other cannot be Attimes,however. it may be desirable to manually control either the gate17 or :the gate 28 and for this purpose we provide a knife switch 1%adapted to short circuit the points 51and52 in'ithe same manner thatthis operation'is produced by the conductin plate 4L7. I also preferablyprovide a second switch 127 for short circuiting the points 109,and'110.

In the construction so far described the gates have been adapted to movevertically when operated by the motor Tn some :l1'1-' of time elementsin connection stancesit may be desirable to have the gates slidehorizontally and l have illustrated such a construction in Figure 6. Theshaft 24 corresponding to the shaft 24, is provided with a bevel gear130 meshing with a similar gear 131 on the shaft 132. This shaft hassplined thereto a pinion 134: meshing with the rack 135 carried by thegate 17.

In Figure 7 I have illustrated a gate 17' having a pivotal mounting 136.conceit trio with this mounting is a worm wheel 13? adapted to be drivenby the worm 138 on the shaft 24;. hen the motor is operated, this gatewill be swung into and out of position in a vertical direction.

In Figures 8 and 9 there is illustrated a gate 17 adaptedto swing abouta vertical aXis 139 concentric with which is a worm wheel 140 adapted tobe driven by the worm 141, on the outer end of the shaft 24.

It will be apparent that the particular type of gate employed may bechanged to suit the conditions.

The advantages of this system arise from the provision of time elementsconnect-ed to the solenoids in such manner that the motor cannot beoperated until complete engagement of the clutches is insured, therebygiving added life to the clutches.

Another advantage arises from the automatic control of the gates wherebythe human element is eliminated. Still another advantage arises from theprovision with the solenoid 49 whereby the motor is not operated by acage passing a floor level.

The term gates as used in the claims, as well as the term shafts, areconstrued broadly to cover various types of gates and shafts and arenotintended to be limited to the particular construction shown,

I claim:

1. An operating mechanism for a plurality of gates, comprising a motor,a normally operative driving connection between the motor and one of thegates, a normally inoperative driving connection between the motor andanother of the gates, means for rendering said normally operativeconnection inoperative and said normally inoperative connectionoperative, and means for restoring said connections automatically totheir original conditions when said last mentioned means becomesineffective, substantially as described.

:2. An operating mechanism for a plurality of gates, comprising a motor,normally operative driving connection between the motor and one of thegates, a normally inoperative driving connection between the motor andanother of the gates, means for simultaneously rendering said normallyoperative connection inoperative and said normally inoperativeconnection operative, and means for restoring said connectionsaudifferent time i for rotating the tomatically to'their originalconditions when said last mentioned means becomes inefiective,si'ibsta'ntially as described.

3. An operating'mechanism for aplurality of gates, comprising a motor, anormally operative driving connection between the motor and one of thegates, a spring device cooperating with said connection, a normallyinoperative driving connection be tween the motor and another ofsuchgates, and means for overcoming the action. of the spring device torrendering said normally operative connection inoperative and saidnormally inoperative connection operative, substantially as described.

4. An operating mechanism for a plurality of-gates, comprising a motor.a clutch connection between the motor and one of the gates, a clutchconnection between the motor and another ofthe gates, means forsimultaneously operating said clutches, said means preventing saidclutches from being simultaneously effective, and automatically operablemeans for simultaneously returning said clutches to theiroriginalpositions, substantially as described. 1

5. An operating mechanism for a plu rality of gates, comprising a motor,a normally operative clutch connectionbetween the motor and one of thegates, a normally inoperative clutch connection between the motor-andanother of said gates, means for simultaneously operating said clutches,and

automatically operable means for simultane-' ously returning saidclutchesto their orig nal positions, substantially as described.v

6. .An operating mechanism for a plurality of gates, for elevator cages,comprising a motor, means for driving one of said gates by themotor,-means for driving another or said gates by the motor, circuitclos ingdevices actuated by the cages for controlling the operation ofvthe motor,.means controlled by one of said circuit closing devices foroperatively connecting the driving means for one of said gates to themotor, and means for preventing the operation of said motor until aftersaid connection has been made, substantially'as described.

7. An operating mechanism for a gate, comprising a motor, a normallyinoperative driving. connection between the gate and said motor,electrically operated means completely operable throughout one timeinterval for rendering said connection operative, and means completelyoperable through a interval and effective only after said operativeconnection is established motor, substantially as described. l 1

8. An operating mechanism for a gate, comprising a motor, a clutchconnection between the gate and said motor, means for holding saidclutch connection in normally inoperative position, electricallyoperated means completely operable through one time interval for movingsaid clutch to operative position, and means completely operable througha different time interval and effective only after the clutch has beenmoved. to operative position for rotating the motor, substantially asdescribed.

9. An operating mechanism for a gate, comprising a motor, means fordriving the gate by said motor, an electro-magnetic device controllingsaid means, a second electro-magnetic device controlling the operationof said motor, and means retarding the operation of saidelectro-magnetic devices varying amounts to prevent initial concurrentoperation ofsaid devices, substan tially as described.

10. An operating mechanism for a gate, comprising a motor, means fordriving the gate by said motor, an electro-magnetic def vice controllingsaid means,-a second electro-magnetic device controllingthe operation ofsaid motor, and means retarding the operation of said electro-magneticdevices,

one of said means retarding the electro-magnetic device controlledthereby a greater amount than the other of said means, sub stantially asdescribed.

11. A control system for gates, comprising a motor, means for drivingone of said gates by said motor, means for driving another of said gatesby said motor, a power circuit for said motor, circuit closing devicesin said circuit arranged to be operated by said gates to break saidcircuit, an electro-magnetic reversing switch in said Cll cuit, andmeans controlling the operation of said reversing switch, substantiallyas described.

12. .An automatic gate mechanism for mine shafts, comprising a gate foreach of said shafts, a motor for driving either of saidgates, clutchconnections between said motor and each of said gates, means completelyoperable through one time interval for controlling the operation of saidclutch connections, and other means controlling the operation of saidmotor, said last named means being completely operable through adifferent time interval whereby the same is effective only after aclutch connection is established, substantially as described.

13. An operating mechanism for a plurality of gates, comprising a motorhaving a shaft projecting beyond "opposite sides thereof, a clutchmember on each end of said shaft, a second clutch member cooperatingwith each of said first mentioned clutch members and each operativelyconnected to one of said gates, means'for normallyholding one pair ofsaid clutch members in operative position and the other pair of saidclutch members in inoperative position, connections between one of themembers of each pair of clutches for moving the same in unison, andelectro-magnetic means for moving said last named means tosimultaneously engage the clutch members which were in operativeposition and engage the clutch members which were in inoperativeposition, substantially as described. l4. An operating mechanism for aplurality of gates, comprising a motor having a shaft projecting beyondopposite sides thereof, a clutch member on each end of said shaft, asecond clutch member cooperating with each of said first mentionedclutch members and each operatively connected to one of said gates,means for normally holdingone pair of said clutch members in operativeposition and the'other pair of said clutch members in inoperativeposition, connections between one of the members of each pair ofclutches for moving the same in unison, electro-magnetic means formoving said last named means to simultaneously engage the clu tchmembers which were in operative position and engage the clutch memberswhich were in inoperative position, and meansretarding the operation ofsaid last named means, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

' CHARLES DRUM.

